Pages

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Hindustan varsity to offer missile tech courses

The Centre for Defence Technology Studies (CDTS), Hindustan University, on Monday announced its collaboration with missile developer MBDA and Cranfield University of UK to offer various programmes in defence technologies.

Apart from the two-year MBA in defence technology management, one-year postgraduate diploma (defence technology management), the university also offers Ph.D. (defence and strategic studies) and M.Phil (defence and strategic studies). The tripartite agreement was signed in May and the university announced its formal tie-up on Monday.

The agreement promotes the design, development and delivery of missile systems design and capability (MSDC) courses and postgraduate education. Mike Nithavrianakis, deputy high commissioner for the UK in Chennai, said the collaboration would be mutually beneficial for UK and Indian students.

“The partnership should be seen as a long-term sustainable relationship. India has got incredible talent and knowledge will be shared between the UK and India,” said Nithavrianakis.

“This is the first initiative in the private sector for defence technology studies,” said Dr K. Sarukesi, vice-chancellor of Hindustan University. Bertrand Dumoulin, deputy country head, India, MBDA, said MBDA gives high priority to research in missile technologies.

Earlier, a panel discussion on the ‘Future of Defence Technologies in India – Opportunities and Challenges’ was held in which panelists Lt. Gen (Retd) S. Pattabhiram, former vice chief of army staff, and Air Marshal (Retd) S. Varthanam, former air officer commanding in chief, Eastern Air Command, participated. Moderator Commodore (Retd) S. Shekhar, who is also the joint director of CDTS, Hindustan University, stressed the need for human resource and self-reliance in the field of defence technology.

“India’s defence budget for the present year is over Rs 2 lakh crore and still we import 70 per cent of our defence requirements,” he pointed out.